WALES' top golfer Bradley Dredge goes into the business part of the year with a dual aim.
He wants to become the first home-based golfer to win the Celtic Manor Wales Open and he is striving for a place in the Ryder Cup team for the USA in the autumn.
He almost achieved the first target 12 months ago when he was leading the field teeing up at the last hole, but was overtaken by South African Richard Sterne and had to settle for the runners-up spot.
He has another shot at it in this year's event from May 28-June 1 on the splendid Twenty Ten Celtic Manor course, the first time for the tournament to be played on the purpose-built course for the 2010 Ryder Cup.
Open champion Padraig Harrington will be taking part this year, it was announced at the launch yesterday. The Irishman beat Spaniard Sergio Garcia in a play-off at Carnoustie last July and finished fifth in this month's US Masters, making him Europe's highest finisher.
He is currently ranked 11th in the world, whereas Dredge is battling to get back into the top 50 after missing out on a place in the Masters, having played in it last year for the first time.
Dredge against Harrington coming down the mouth-watering 18th at the Twenty Ten course would be the perfect scenario for Welsh and Gwent golf enthusiasts.
"It would be ideal," admitted Tredegar-born Dredge, who grew up mainly at Blackwood before basing himself at his current Radyr home.
"If I was coming down the last with Padraig I'd hope to turn the tables after what happened in the Irish Open. If I had a chance I'd like to think I could close the deal and get the trophy in my hands," he said.
The pressure of the occasion, the family and fans willing him on to be the first Welshman to win his own Open has surprisingly little effect on Dredge.
"I was disappointed last year, in the lead at the last and needing a par to win only to catch the bunker and making five from there," he lamented.
"I had great support and it was nice to have it as a Welshman playing in Wales. The crowd getting behind you, spurs you on and makes you play better, I find it helps."
Dredge took a first look at the course yesterday when he was driven around it by Celtic Manor director of golf Jim McKenzie.
"It's been purpose built for the Ryder Cup and they've done a good job designing individual holes," he said. "It's risk reward and it's good to have holes like that rather than, say, the 450-yard par four, you've got to think about it and the guys appreciate it.
"It's a pretty impressive clubhouse, too, the range looks fantastic and the viewing area at 16,17 and 18 means you could sit all day and watch pretty much the whole course. They have really thought about it and it should be a great atmosphere."
Dredge has plotted his year carefully, opting to give the Asian events a miss and really go for it from here on in, clearly needing to win a tournament quickly if he is to get back into the world's top 50.
"I hardly played in the winter (spending five weeks in Spain honing his game) so the players from the Asian tour get a lead, but they can get burnt out by the summer and in the summer time in Europe the big prizes are about, they're the events to play in," he said.
"I try to plan quality rather than quantity, not play six or seven events in a row. It's tough to peak all the time, but the best chance is to rest, make changes and improve my game in the winter then be ready for this run now.
"Hopefully, I'll get back into the top 50 in the world rankings, but I'll have to play really well and win one of the next four tournaments."
Prize money at the Wales Open has been increased to £1.8m and is one of the top ten events on the European Tour.
McKenzie said it is hoped Colin Montgomerie will again enter and they hope to see the incomparable Tiger Woods at the Celtic Manor before the 2010 Ryder Cup.
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